Friday, May 22, 2009

78 Ways to Start a Book: or Maybe 77 - or 101??

"78 Ways to Start Your Next Book or Article"
André Bell, Writer's Gazette (2004)

"So many people want to write books to generate passive income, gain credibility and recognition, to leave a legacy, and just to be heard.

"The biggest challenge they find is not coming up with ideas to write about, the biggest challenge is often figuring out how to begin a book or article...."

"...Here are my 'quick start' opening lines that anyone can use for any book or article to help get started right now at becoming an author...."

I couldn't help notice that the title refers to "78 ways," the text says "101 opening phrases," and the numbered list goes from 1 to 77. But, as the author writes: "Don't get tied up by perfectionism."

There's a fairly long discussion about how to use the phrases, and the list.

This is a pretty good resource for writers of non-fiction. Or, with a little tweaking, fiction - in my opinion. As the author says: "The exercises are designed to help prompt your creativity."

3 comments:

Mariana Soffer said...

The thing is that artists need constraints to do their artworks, it is imposible o do art without them. If you start with a paragraph or a centence the rest of the book will be constrained to have to follow that first part

Mariana Soffer said...

The thing is that artists need constraints to do their artworks, it is imposible o do art without them. If you start with a paragraph or a centence the rest of the book will be constrained to have to follow that first part

Brian H. Gill said...

Mariana Soffer,

Indeed, indeed.

:)

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